Identify these questions

While pure logic isn’t generally tested in verbal reasoning tests, understanding the basics of logic can help you with many verbal reasoning test questions.

In particular, you might get questions like this:

• If it is raining, when it is not the case that it is raining, then…
• Either we go to school or go to work, therefore we…
• If it is true that Saba owns a restaurant, then it is false that…

See how these questions involve words like:

• If
• And
• Either
• Or
• True
• False
• Not

These words, typically connecting words, can show options, determine conditions, show negation and more. These words show logical connections.

Knowing how to work with logical connections (and knowing basic logic) can help you think better, but also answer logic style questions with greater clarity.

The strategy to answer these questions

To answer these questions, it’s important to know some basic logic. So, let’s go through some basic logic.

Negation

When a statement is negated, it is not true. Often, words like “It is not the case that …” or “not …” will negate something.

Examples

• It is raining. Negation: It is not raining OR It is not the case that it is raining. Not a negation: It is sunny.
• I love chocolate. Negation: It is not the case that I love chocolate. Not a negation: I hate chocolate (common mistake).

Disjunction

A disjunction a sentence expressed in English by the word "or", like:

Either you like the beach or you like the forest.

When one side is true or when both are true, the whole statement is true. When both are not true, the statement is false.

Equivalence

Equivalence is when two or more statements say the same thing in true value. For example: “The glass is half full” is the same as saying “The glass is half empty”.

It important to know equivalence so that you can understand when a particular statement means the same (but is just rephrased).

Consistency

Two statements are consistent when they can both be possible together. For example:

I am 3. My sister is 8.

This is not consistent:

I am 3. I am not 3.

This is trickier, but is also consistent:

My name is Joseph. My name is Joff.

We’ve done a lot of thinking with logic! Now, let’s apply our new critical thinking skills with questions.

Example Question/s

Watch video for explanation of the following question/s:

1. What is the negation of: “I can’t see”?
2. When is: “Either you can fly or you can swim” false?
3. What is equivalent to: “Some birds are flying animals”?
4. Are the following statements consistent? “I have a cat. I have a pet dog. I have not got a pet dog.”

Key Rules to remember

• Understand the key words: If, And, Either, Or, True, False, Not.
• With “or” statements, know when the statement is true or false.
• Negation is when something is “not the case”.
• Equivalence is when something has the same truth value.
• When statements are consistent, they can be possible together. If not, they are inconsistent.

Practice time!

Now, it's your turn to practice.

Click on the button below and start your practice questions. We recommend doing untimed mode first, and then, when you're ready, do timed mode.

Every question has two solutions videos after you complete the question. The first is a quick 60 second video that shows you how our expert answers the question quickly. The second video is a more in-depth 5-steps or less explainer video that shows you the steps to take to answer the question. It's really important that you review the second video because that's where you'll learn additional tips and tricks.

Once you're done with the practice questions, move on to the next checkpoint.

Now, let's get started on your practice questions.

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